Coronavirus Updates

The global pandemic of COVID-19 is still in its early stages amidst the continuing number of COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and state.

The shelter-in-place restrictions were set to expire on May 3; however, there will be an extension.

Santa Clara County: In a joint press release issued earlier this week, six Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara County, have extended the shelter-in-place order through the end of May.

Santa Cruz County: The county is extending its shelter-in-place indefinitely

There have been updates to easing of specific restrictions for a small number of lower-risk activities. The shelter-in-place order will largely keep the current restrictions in place.

What this means is that you and your child's team will continue with tele-therapy until further notice.

According to the CDC, there are six new symptoms that have been added to the COVID-19 checklist. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported--ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Chills

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Headache

Sore throat

New loss of taste or smell

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Attached is Honu Intervention's Pandemic Policy Handbook for both staff and families that include guidelines for onset of illness, guidelines for disinfecting materials, during the day prevention, and communication plan.

The Shelter in Place deadline has been extended to May 3, 2020 to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19. This means that Honu Intervention Inc. will continue to provide teletherapy services (i.e., virtual intervention) through May 3. For families who are not currently receiving teletherapy, your child's therapist or supervisor will contact you to set up sessions via phone or video conference.

Fluency and Fitness - Educational brain breaks to help students review essential literacy and math skills, while getting in some exercise. Find over 900 videos to help your child keep learning at home and burn off some extra energy. Our site is best used for ages 4-8.

Go Noodle - Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

The OT Tool Box - At home OT, PT, and ST resources designed to build skills in children through movement and play.

And some additional resources, guides, and or supports if you are interested.

How to manage your mental health and cope during COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The outbreak of infectious diseases such as the recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can be a stressful time for individuals and communities. It is not uncommon to feel anxious or worried while listening, reading or watching the news. While it’s necessary to keep up-to-date and make changes to daily life in order to help control the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the constant news cycle coupled with social distancing measures can have a real impact on mental health.

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It’s important during times like these to monitor your own physical and mental health, as well as safely stay connected to your community. Know the signs of stress and when and how to seek help for yourself, as well as loved ones.

Here are a few resources, credible information sources, and self-care tools for our mental health and wellbeing.

Postpartum Support International: Provides support for new mothers and their families. Call 1-800-944-4773 or Text 503-894-9453 if you have questions about mental health needs after having a baby or you need emotional support. Click Here for Online Support Groups & Click Here for Resources for Dads

Emotional Support and Wellness:

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We know that human connection is one of the most critical protective factors for good mental health. But how can we stay in connection while still following medical guidance to limit your exposure to others? Community isn’t just about proximity, it’s first and foremost a mindset about who we consider to be “our own.” In the face of social distancing, remember that we all need one another -- maybe more than ever -- to get through difficult times like these. Staying emotionally connected as a community even if we temporarily become more physically isolated is critical to all our mental health. Learn more at Community Connections in Times of Physical Separation.

The daily updates concerning COVID-19 are a source of great uncertainty for all of us. Thank you for your patience during this challenging time as Honu Intervention developed a plan in consideration of your health and safety, as well as that of Honu Intervention staff.

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The health officers of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties are directing all individuals in the county to shelter at their place of residence and away from others as much as possible for the next three weeks to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the region.

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Effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, a “Shelter in Place” order will stay in place until at least April 7, 2020. Following the most recent direction from CDC and Department of Developmental Services (DDS), what this means for essential services including EI and ABA therapy is:

You/client or therapist can postpone services until at least April 7, 2020 to follow the Shelter in Place order

You/client and therapist can resume sessions as per usual (both parties must agree)

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Supervisors will be switching to telehealth and providing parent training/education through video conferencing**

**Honu Intervention supervisors will provide parent education/coaching sessions via telehealth (i.e., remote video conference) daily through Honu Intervention’s Google Meets, a HIPAA compliant video-conferencing platform. You can schedule these appointments directly with the Program Supervisor during your typically scheduled time. We can also work with you to develop a routine that you can implement at home to keep working on the skills that are typically part of your child’s day throughout sessions.

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Honu Intervention will consider any new information from the CDC, WHO, and DDS and will plan for the week of April 7, 2020 and send an update before then.

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We apologize for the short notice and regret any negative impact this may have on you or your child. Your health and safety, as well as that of the Honu Intervention staff, is of the utmost importance.

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UPDATE: 03/06/2020 7:41 a.m.

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Out of an abundance of caution, Honu Intervention, Inc. is implementing an action plan to address evolving circumstances involving the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We believe this action plan aligns with our commitment to ensure the health and safety of our staff, clients, and their families. Honu Intervention, Inc. administration will communicate any updates to this plan as well as concerns about the spread of the virus to staff and clients on an ongoing basis.

Preventative Actions

Our team is actively cleaning and sanitizing high touch places such as tablets and children’s toys frequently throughout the day. If there are increased incidents in our community, certain spaces will be temporarily off-limits.

Handwashing instructions have been reviewed and discussed to increase frequency of staff handwashing. Clients will be encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival, before eating snacks, before leaving for the day and after sneezing or coughing in them. Clients who have sensory challenges with handwashing will have modified handwashing routines which are individualized to them. If you have concerns about specific products used for handwashing, please reach out to your child’s Program Manager (Jeni Desai, Dor Zhang, or Desiree Luong).

Each client’s learning materials brought in by the interventionist will be wiped down before and after each session with antibacterial wipes. If your child has an allergy or sensitivity to antibacterial gel or cleaning products, please let their Program Manager know.

As fundamental as this information is, it bears repeating that to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, staff and clients should remember to:

Cover your cough or sneeze

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

See your doctor if you have a fever, cough, body aches and fatigue

Stay home and limit contact with others if you are sick

Notification of Travel

We are asking that families and team members notify our main office [(831) 316-4699] if you have plans to travel to overseas over spring break. In addition, clients or staff who have family members who reside with them who have traveled to or had stopovers in countries that are considered Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or higher, should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Honu Intervention, Inc. will remain vigilant in staying up to date with all local and national recommendations regarding business closures or cancellation of sessions. In the event that a client or staff member comes into contact, contracts, or reports a diagnosis of COVID-19, s/he will be suspended for a minimum of 14 days or until notice that there is no risk of contracting the virus is provided by a medical official.

We understand this is a stressful time for our families and want to ensure you that your child’s health is our first priority. We will continue to keep you informed of any updates. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your Program Manager if you have any questions or additional concerns.

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UPDATE: 01/31/2020 3:08 p.m.

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The health and safety of our clients and staff are our utmost priority!

Our goal is to keep our families up to date on any new recommendations made by the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County Public Health Department.

Based on the newest recommendations from the County Public Health Department, our Program Managers have instructed interventionists to cancel sessions if they, clients, or client's family members have recently traveled to Wuhan, China and are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory illness. Additionally, our team will continue to implement illness prevention protocols for disinfecting therapy materials. To reduce the spread of germs, we encourage families and children to use their own materials during sessions as reinforcers.

Important reminders for prevention are as follows:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses, including flu. It is not too late to get your flu vaccine, according to health officials.

Remember, if you are not feeling well or are experiencing cold, flu or other symptoms, please cancel session with your interventionist to avoid spreading germs.

About Honu Intervention

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Honu Intervention provides children and their families with professional family-centered intervention and effective care coordination between interdisciplinary team members. We offer Early Start, private, and out-of-pocket services for early intervention, behavioral support; and speech, occupational, and physical therapy.